THE Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions yesterday successfully opposed the bail application of a soldier on assault charges on the grounds he was evading arrest by being at military barracks where police were refused entry.

However, Pita Matairavula's lawyer Mehboob Raza said reports that his client was on the run was not true.

Mr Matairavula, one of the five accused in the alleged assault of Iowane Benedito, appeared before Magistrate Charles Ratakele at the Nasinu Magistrates Court.

State lawyer and Assistant Director of Public Prosecution Michael Delaney said there was a risk of Matairavula not complying with bail.

In his objection to bail, Mr Delaney said police had gone to Matairavula's residence following a directive from the Commissioner of Police and senior officers to charge the five accused persons. Officers were told by his wife that he had gone to the shop to buy bread but he did not return.

Mr Delaney claimed that Matairavula was evading arrest since October 21 and was at the military barracks where police officers were denied entry.

He added that police took a sensible position and went to the Lautoka High Court on October 28 where the accused was facing a similar charge.

Police were told Matairavula would be brought to Suva to face his charges, which did not happen. Mr Delaney continued that Matairavula had waited for his co-accused persons to be granted bail and then he surrendered himself to the police.

Officer in charge of the investigations Inspector Semi Senitiri took the witness stand and informed the court of their attempts to arrest Matairavula.

Mr Raza asked the court to grant bail to Matairavula on the grounds that was married with two children, a class one warrant officer, had no previous convictions and has his own property in Kinoya.

The defence lawyer also told the court that a media report saying his client had ammunition and was on the run from police was not entirely true.

He added there was no attempt by police to arrest Mataraivula who had voluntarily surrendered himself to police.

Matairavula has been remanded in custody to await Magistrate Ratakele's decision on his bail application on November 13. A video of five persons assaulting Benedito went viral on social networks two years ago, which prompted police investigations. Source: Fiji Times

Look this is merely a confirmation that Thug Rule imposed in Fiji by military dictator Frank Bainimarama after his unlawful takeover is still pretty much alive and well notwithstanding the purported claim that Fiji has returned to democracy. The dictator's thugs in uniform - like the military commander Naupoto - have been installed everywhere to ensure the people of Fiji have democracy only in name.

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Dekho

3/11/2015 04:50:46 pm

Remember that time when Polcom Andrew Hughes was about to arrest Frank Bainimarama for sedition and threatening to overthrow the government and he got his military thugs to lock down the military camp? He then staged his coup to save his bacon all the while pretending it was a " clean up " coup to save the country.
Well his military thugs are still around to close ranks on a fellow thug. Remember what the coupist said " don't fuck with the military " - that's his mob. And they have given themselves a special standing in the coupist's constitution to reign supreme. That's why they don't have the respect for the rule of law which the military as arm of government should have in a democracy.they regard themselves above the law. Try an arrest the commander Naupote for his crimes and see what happens...

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Ratu Sai

3/11/2015 05:27:53 pm

You cannot run forever dude, so face the consequences of your action like the man you think you are...good luck to prison life and may you can try escaping so you can have a taste of your own medicine.

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And

3/11/2015 07:01:25 pm

When you are the Dictator's Personal Body Guard surely like the Dictator himself you too are above the law and have the protection of the Dictator's military henchmen to guard you against the law.
How dare the police try to arrest a man so close to the Dictator of Fiji.?

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Khalash Otti

3/11/2015 08:29:58 pm

Isa, Matairavula!

You are a small pawn in Khaiyum/s grand scheme of things - you will be sacrificed. keep your tooth-brush and toiletries handy and get ready to meet your REAL Land Force Commander, Brij.Gen. Driti in Naboro, soon.

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rajend naidu

4/11/2015 09:49:39 am

Editor,
A regular commentator on issues in contemporary Fiji society Nardeo Mishra tells us in his letter to the Fiji Times 5/11 that " We are all Fijians, but if you look at the recent military intake it does not reflect that ".
Yes, that should help remind us that the more things change the more it remains the same!
Are the Fijians in the new Fiji of Bainimarama and Khaiyum still waiting for their new political messiahs for a " paradigm change "?
Waiting on.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

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Chiku

4/11/2015 01:30:42 pm

Who is footing the bill for Maqbull Raza's services as defence lawyer for Bainmarama's body guard Pita Matairavula, the assault charge accussed?

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